Colorful flowers, Arizona~Garden Bloggers Bloom Day~091511

Fall in the desert southwest is different than most parts of the country.  Here in the Coachella Valley, August is a time for the fields to lie fallow.  I took these photos over in Arizona in August.  I honestly don't know what this plant is~can somebody please tell me?  I liked how it curved over.  The bees certainly liked it, too!  Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for September 15, 2011. If you want to stop by GBBD, please go to:  http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/

Dragon's teeth? ~Sunday stills Challenge~081411

No, just the pointy spines on an agave!  But, don't they look like dragon's teeth?  I just love these!  I found these on my morning walk at the Marriott Desert Ridge villas.  There were quail, cottontails, doves, and cactus wrens out and about at dawn this morning.  It was a nice walk then.  I went out again about 8:00 a.m. and it was so hot and sticky and HUMID that I came back to our room completely soaked with perspiration!!!  Sunday Stills Challenge for August 14, 2011.

Mexican Bird of Paradise~Today's Flowers~072411

Hubby and I are over in Arizona this weekend, in Scottsdale. We decided to get out of our desert and go sit in a hotel in another one! I know that sounds crazy, but we both needed a change of scenery. So, yesterday morning I marched out with my camera to take some photos of the area next to the pool which is below our room. It was hot by 9:00 a.m. and I wasn't outside long...just long enough to snap a couple of quick photos! This is a Mexican bird of paradise bush. We have them in our desert, too, but I haven't stopped to take any photos of them this summer. Aren't they gorgeous? I have some in my yard, but mine are pure yellow. These are very hardy bushes and they propagate easily. I like the multicolored ones better! Today's Flowers for July 24, 2011. To visit Today's Flowers, please go to: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Camelback Resort flowers~Today's Flowers~060511

I took an early morning walk one morning over at Camelback Resort, in Scottsdale, Arizona and stopped to admire one of their planters. Aren't they pretty? Today's Flowers for June 5, 2011.

After the sprinklers came on~Today's Flowers~052911

These flowers are NOT in my garden. Instead, I found them at the Marriott's Camelback Inn and Resort. I had driven over there yesterday morning to do my morning walk (i.e. "death march") at 5:00 a.m. I did my walk (hike) and was busy taking photos when, all of a sudden, my camera wouldn't click...that means only one thing...a DEAD BATTERY! I was at the top of the resort. My car was safely parked at the parking lot at the bottom of the resort, so off I went. Upon inserting a new battery, I walked back to the top and found these flowers which had been recently watered by their watering system. They were covered with water droplets and I just had to take pics of them! Today's Flowers for May 29, 2011. To see other gardens, please go to: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Sunflowers and Black Eyed Susans planted!

I planted more sunflower seeds and black eyed susans today. I had watered a sunny area next to our neighbor's block fence and decided to plant them there, since we will be able to see them from the house. I hope they grow and grow and grow! They'll also be a food source for the birds which visit our back yard! I'm thinking about planting other seeds along that fence, since it travels the entire length of our back yard. **NOT MY PHOTO***

Joe's Farm Grill and community gardens, Arizona

So, last Thursday afternoon, after a grueling day at school, hubby announced we would be going to Arizona for the weekend "to relax". Huh? Relax? I get up at 5:00 every morning, go for a walk, and then complete my day. His idea of relaxing is to go somewhere and sit in the hotel room ALL DAY. (not my idea of relaxing...) But, FINALLY yesterday, we hit the road and drove over to Joe's Grill which is...I don't know where it is! Somewhere near Gilbert, Arizona...anyway, while he stood in line to order our food, I wandered across the street to the community gardens. Oh, MY! Those folks must use a LOT of fertilizer! Their sunflowers were HUGE! Their hollyhocks were HUGE! I did notice that they had a compost pile and used alfalfa around their plants...hmmm....I have TONS of horse manure (from my 5 horses...)...guess I'll have to start putting it around my plants! Just LOOK at these flowers! I'm SO JEALOUS! I must admit that I was in awe of their gardens! I REALLY need to rethink mine now! If you want to visit Joe's website, here's the link: http://joesfarmgrill.com/